Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
More than 1,000 Sea Turtle Nests on Islands
Sea turtle nesting season continues to be in full swing on Sanibel and Captiva, with SCCF’s sea turtle team reporting strong nest counts and thousands of hatchlings already making their way to the Gulf.
Captiva has recorded 214 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests so far this season, while Sanibel has 848 loggerhead nests and 10 green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests. Combined, the islands have 1,072 sea turtle nests so far this season. Across both islands, 4,640 loggerhead hatchlings have emerged to date.
Coyote depredation is down from last year, but remains a challenge for nesting turtles, with 60 nests lost on Captiva and 137 lost on Sanibel this season.
SCCF’s sea turtle team continues to monitor nests daily across both islands as the season progresses, tracking new activity and working to protect nests from predation.
With a few weeks of nesting left, this year’s nesting season may exceed the record for total loggerhead nests set in 2023, with 1,177 nests. Currently, the total for loggerhead nests is 1,062.
Please call our Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663 to report any issues with nests, nesting turtles, or hatchlings.
On Tuesday, July 21, SCCF’s Coastal Wildlife team will present a sea turtle and shorebird nesting season update to Sanibel City Council, including an overview of current research. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at MacKenzie Hall, 800 Dunlop Road, and is open to the public; the presentation is expected to start around 9:30 a.m. Those unable to attend in person can watch a livestream on the City’s Facebook page.